NYC Free Museum Days & Discounts Calendar 2025

Complete Guide to Free Museum Days in NYC This May

Planning a budget-friendly cultural experience in NYC? Our up-to-date guide provides all the information you need about free admission days, pay-what-you-wish hours, and resident discounts at New York City's top museums and cultural institutions.

Whether you're a local New Yorker or a visitor exploring the city, this calendar helps you access incredible art, history, and science exhibitions without spending a fortune. Save this guide to plan your cultural adventures with our curated calendar throughout May 2025.

Explore NYC's museums by institution with our curated May 2025 calendar. Find free days, pay-what-you-wish hours, and special offers at New York's most iconic cultural destinations.

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
pwywDaily 5-6pm, Pay-as-you-wish
9/11 Memorial & Museum
freeMondays 5:30-7pm
Tickets available online at 7am each Monday & first come, first serve
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
pwywMondays & Saturdays 4-5:30pm, Pay-as-you-wish
Museum of the Moving Image
freeThursdays 2-6pm
The Frick Collection
pwywWednesdays 2-6pm, Pay-as-you-wish
Whitney Museum of American Art
freeFridays, 5-10pm
The Morgan Library & Museum
freeFridays, 7-9pm
MoMA The Museum of Modern Art
freeFridays, 5:30-8:30pmNY residents only
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
pwywAlways, Pay-as-you-wishNY residents & NY/NJ/CT students only
American Museum of Natural History
pwywAlways, Pay-as-you-wishNY residents only
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
discountAlways, NYC residents discountNY residents only

NYC Museum Visit FAQs

May Specials

Mark your calendar! These NYC museums offer free or pay-what-you-wish days on a regular monthly schedule. These special events happen every month, so you can plan ahead:

The Noguchi Museum

May 2
freeFirst Fridays
Tickets released two weeks in advance at 12pm (starting Apr 18)
Official Website

Brooklyn Museum

May 3
freeFirst Saturdays 5-9pm
View in Artudy

Whitney Museum of American Art

May 11
freeSecond Sundays
View in Artudy

Museum Visit Tips

  • Arrive early to avoid long lines (especially at popular museums)
  • Bring valid ID for resident discounts
  • Some free days may have limited access to special exhibits
  • Always check the museum's official website before visiting